Safety hanger pin guard



Sept. 1 1936.

G. c. M MASTERS 2,052,838 SAFETY HANGER PIN GUARD Filed Oct. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A llorney Sept. 1, 1936.

G. c. M MASTERS 2,052,838 SAFETY HANGER PIN GUARD Filed Oct. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnven [or f. JLMZE'Mms'Z'er M pmm A Home};

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 s ren STATES PATENT orrics 10 Claims.

I'his invention relates to a novel and improved guard in the form of an attachment for standardized keeper means used on certain wheel equipped trucks such as are provided on present day railway cars. V p 7 In order that the invention may be better understood, it is to be pointed out by way of introduction that'the improved guard .or accessory is in the form of a sectional pin retention clip expressly designed to be used on {Bettendorf, fVulcan and other series of trucks that have pin hole brackets. It is a matter of common knowledge that these types of trucks are provided with removable brake hanger rods or pins and these are inserted 'endwise thru special adapter openings formed in the sides of the frame structure of the truck. As the brake, hangers and brake beams have to be renewed and repaired from time to time itis necessary to remove and replace said brake hanger rod or pin. On the types of trucks indicated the frame is provided outwardly of the adapter hole with integral keeper means. The most commontyp'e comprises a pair of superimposed parallelhook like extensions which register .25 with the adapter holes.

if At the present time it is the common practice to employ a pinretention or guard device which substantially L shaped in form. In other words it is in the nature of an L-shaped iron strap, the

shank portion being inserted through the keeper lioo'ks; The extending end of the shank portion is then adapted to be heated with an acetylene torch, after which it is bent at right angles around the adjacent ends'of the keeper hooks. The result is that the strap arm then becomes a sort of a U-shaped clip and spans or closes the space between the hooks and also functions as a 'temporary closure for the adjacent adapter hole and this prevents accidental displacement of the brake hanger rod or pin. To remove this pin retention or guard it is necessary to heat it on one end and hammer 'it back. Manifestly however there is considerable expense and unnecessary time utilized'by following this method and for this reason I have devoted considerable time and thought to the development of an improved guard which is susceptible of being used either with the closed or open hook type keeper on the car truck.

Generically the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of substantially duplicate companion sections or unitsv designed to cooperate in a complemental manner to provide a safe and dependable pin guard clip.

My aim is to generally improve upon devices '55 susceptible of being classified in this particular line of endeavor by providing one which is, comparatively speaking, economical, susceptible of expeditious application and removal, safe and reliable, and otherwise aptly fitted to fulfill the requirement of the trade and industry.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a conventional car body truck and showing the improved safety clip fully in place at the left, and partly in place at the right.

Figure 2 is a perspective drawing showing the duplicate pair of companion sections which go to make up the improved unitary safety clip.

Figure 3 is a view showing the sections coupled or fastened together by a cotter key such as is employed in carrying the idea into practice.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the aforementioned brake rod or pin, the frame and keeper hooks and the safety clip associated with said hooks.

Figure 5 is a horizontalsectional view of the assemblage disclosed in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 showing, instead of the resilient metal type clip, a pre-cast relatively sturdy type of the rigid variety which may be used under certain circumstances.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the clip of Figure 6 as it is used.

In the drawings in Figure 1, the conventional Bettendorf car truck is shown and indicated by the numeral 8. The only features of this with which I am especially concerned here are those shown better in Figures 4 and 5. Referring to these figures it will be observed that the brake hanger rod or pin is denoted by the numeral 9 and one end of this is removably fitted in an adapter hole in the frame of the truck. ,Outwardiy of this and cast integral with the frame of the truck are the so-called keeper hooks l0 and II. These are disposed in superposed parallelism for cooperation with the adapter hole and allow thepin 9 to be inserted and removed as desired.

I call attention at this time to Figure 2 which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention, that is a resilient or spring metal type of clip. The clip is of two-part construction and the parts or sections may be conveniently designated substantially U-shaped units I2 and I3. They are identical in construction and fashioned from resilient cheap metal. This makes it possible to manufacture the parts at low cost. The inner arms M and I5 are adapted to overlap when forced together as shown in Figure 3. The outer arms l6 have their free end portions bent laterally outward as indicated at H to form abutting and fastening flanges. These flanges are apertured to accommodate a cotter key l3 which is inserted with its prongs bent around the flanges as shown in Figure 3. The two clips are assembled around the hooks It and H as shown better in Figures 4 and 5. In other words one clip is inserted at one side and then the other clip is inserted to bring the ends it and i5 int overlapping binding resilient gripping relation on the parts are carefully proportioned to accom plish this result. Then the cotter key-is inserted and its prongs are bent and are virtually loeked in place; Its primary purpose is to take the place oi the aforementioned- L shaped strap arm which is ordinarily employed at the present time on railroads; It is my idea that these two parts are far superior to the old style safety strap iron. To those familiar with articles of manufacture of thisgeneral classification it is evident that the clip, as-a unit, is'quite inexpensive not only to the manufacturer but to the user. The parts can be made satisfactorily on an air press which will bend thein and'punch the cotter keyholes all in one operation and this adds to the emcieney and utility of the article as a whole. As before indicated the device in" addition to serving satisfactorily as a safety guard will save much time and minimize expense so far as the railroad company isconcerned. The parts can be turned out in production lots and will serve satisfactorily even when made from a cheap grade of light weight metal. Noparticular skill is required in applying or removing the clip and it is unquestionably safe and reliable in its operation. To my mind it is a needed improvement over the P e en r ten i me s; and, m h d of app it in place and is consequently wellfitted for its ll i P n h m difi atic Sh w n F u n 7 he am hsiameetalid a s Qa ri d nto e t- Her thecq rianiq Qm 1m B S and 26' are rigidly cast in pairs so that the conne tin and, fas n n fla 2' m ome g'eth'er'in cooperating relationship toreceive the cotter key so that the connecting end portions 22 nd w ll m e her neatly in v a ped elat on i ar an 23.. a 1f .91- re o len th. an us d ne o n ompt easier assembling in that they are not likely to become distorted or corroded and. this form of the invention therefore has certain advantages over the spring type. Taking everything into consideration however it is thought that the spring type .clip will serve adequately well in that it is attendedwithcertain appreciable commerc al. a pe s, and a n a s- The principal idea, generically speaking, is to providethe flanged sections of general U -shap ed form which can be alternately slipped over the supporting or retention hooks of the existing keeper means on the car truck, the overlapping portions serving to bridge the space between the hooks so as to eflfect theprincipal guard means, and the flanges being readily accessible so as to accommodate the cotter key or other fastening meansstructurally speaking, and ,by way of introduction to the claims, it is to be pointed out that each part or section is in the nature of a U shaped unit and includes a connective or bight portion and a pair of spaced parallel end portions. It is to be noted that one end portion, that is, the part which goes into the keeper, is longer than the other end portion. Then, too, the last named end portion which ison the exterior of the keeper has its free end bent laterally outward and apertured to provide an abutment as well as a retention flange to accommodate the cotter key. I I

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the; drawin scriptionis regarded as unnecessary.

Therefore, a more lengthy de- Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, desired. I

Having thus described the invention, 'whatis claimed as "newis: 1. In a structural assemblage or the class described, in combination, a car truck frame-provided; with an adapter hole'f'or accommodation of the adjacent end of a brake hanger rod "'anjd further provided adjacent said hole withrod retentiorr guard holding meansfand guard means associated with said holding Ineansand comprising a pair of quick separable and attachaltyle units. 2; As a new article of manufacture a'safety guard clip of the type described comprising a pair ofquick connectible and separable units detach.- ably applicable to operative position on'a' car truck frame and including cooperable portions to serve asan efiective closure and to guard against endwi'se lac men a mp emen e ha ge md- H '3; As a newproduct of manufacture, a safety r l p f htr descr b d mpr sing, air

f' U-Sh n d .dup iate ections, 'adapt dto be ass mb e iqfibl iti g lations ip espond n end portions thereof being disposable inoverlan p ng r la h a t e rema in cor snonds nds b r d d with ut i ndns ab jiting fla s. r ures. to acco modate trees,

l s ening mean s anew r le of m nufa tur a. pair o u licate .U- hap d sprin linsithein r corr spondi end cr ions h r of being adapted to come together in overlapping relationship, the r e nd po ion. Qf the p ite ends t ereoi being bent laterally outward and apertured to rovi e a sem ing a d et nt o acsesya d a ett ke Qr g er i o h id nges t facilitate assembling andmaintenance ,I 5. As a' new, pro duct ,,of manufacture. a; safety ua d tt iz unr t. f kee v m n ag ru ker the l ssdes r bed. mpr s g a pair of r gid pr cast! U...- 1? un ts rr s o din end portions thereof being disposed} lgqgetherf. in overlapping relationship, the free endportionsof. the

remaining ends thereof being bent laterally outward. o rm rigid a t ing; fl n es. nd. sa d ng s-be n a r ur oa nonim datea otte key r: he ike agcmpane t part. orthe structure Qithe tions, one endportion being-longer than the other and the last namedend portion-having-its-free end bent: laterally outward-and apertured toprovide a retention flange.

'7. In a structural assemblage of the glass described, in combination, a car truck frame provided with an adapter hole for accommodation of the adjacent end of a brake hanger pin, removable sectional guard and pin retention means adapted to cover the hole and to prevent endwise accidental displacement of said pin through the hole, and fixedly connected supporting hooks on said frame to maintain said guard means satisfactorily in operating position.

8. In a structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, a car truck frame provided with an adapter hole, a brake hanger rod having one end portion disposed in said hole, keeper means on the frame in alignment with said hole, and guard means detachably cooperable with the keeper means, said guard means including a closure plate for the hole, and readily accessible flanged retention means for the plate.

9. As a component part of a structural attachment of the class described, a closure unit for the adapter hole of a brake hanger rod embodying a plate adapted to extend across and cover the hole, said plate being fashioned to cooperate with the keeper means within the vicinity of the hole and being provided with flanged retaining means cooperable with said keeper means, said retaining means being in parallelism to the plate.

10. As a new article of manufacture and as a component part of an attachment of the class described, a safety hanger pin guard comprising a cover plate for the adapter hole in a frame in which the hanger rod or pin is disposed, said plate being constructed to cooperate with retaining hook on the frame adjacent to and in alignment with the hole, and said plate being of preformed type and including laterally bent connecting means at one end adapted to maintain the plate in operative position.

GILBERT CHARLES MCMASTERS. 

